When the student is ready the teacher will come!

Prior to leaving for Hawaii, I learned that a favourite local trainer, Rob Kroeger of Wareabouts Training Stable, had slipped on the ice and broke his leg. Our neighbour, Ken McLennan had his two driving mares, Lynn & Lori, with Rob to get them started under saddle and Rob had to send all the horses home while he recovered. I contacted Rob and he agreed to coach me through the process of starting Dexter under saddle; and I would do all the work. I wanted help because I've never started a youngster and with Dexter's history, I didn't want to make any mistakes that would set us back. As it happened, Rob was one of the trainer's Dexter's previous owner had hired to fix Dexter, back in November 2010. After spending 5 days with Dexter, Rob had minimal success and recommended that whoever catches Dexter should be his owner. I am so glad Dexter chose me. Anyway, Dexter's progress will be discussed in another blog - this blog is about Jack.

Jack is a beautiful paint gelding, with Go Man Go breeding, who has physiological issues (sensitivity) about being touched. Rob has owned and kept Jack for several years because he felt the horse had something important to teach him. Just prior to us taking Dexter to Rob, Jack gravely injured his hind leg on a barb wire fence. I hope you can imagine how difficult it is to treat a horse who doesn't want to be touched or even caught for that matter; so Jack was confined to a stall to allow Rob to tend to his injured leg.

When Rob introduced me to Jack, I asked if he would allow me to try TTouch on Jack and he readily agreed. As I have always said about TTouch, "it might help but it definitely won't do any harm". The only problem was that Jack wasn't happy having me in his stall and when a horse is that scared, I'm not happy being in a confined area with him either, never mind trying to touch him. I remembered Linda Tellington Jones telling me that TTouch can also work from a distance, using a strong intention, and holding on to the possibility for change.

Assuming a non-threatening posture, for 3 days, twice a day, I used the llama touch all over Jack's body from across the stall. Jack is an extremely expressive horse, and it was quite a surprise that he would say "careful" when I tried to work on his injured leg from a distance. After 3 days, Jack started to relax a wee bit so I llama'd the air as I approached his shoulder and finally, he permitted me to touch him. Because Jack is so expressive, it was great fun trying all the different TTouches to see what he liked and didn't like. He especially loved the leg work and eventually, I was able to TTouch Jack's entire body, with the exception of his face and his injured leg.

One day I arrived to discover that Rob had moved Jack to a paddock to let him enjoy some sunshine. We both wondered if Jack would allow me to approach him; and he did. That was a tremendous gift because in a stall, he really has little choice in the matter. Being in the paddock told me he chose to allow me to TTouch him because he could have easily left.

The other quirky thing about Jack is that while he loves treats, he didn't want to touch your hand so he would snatch the treat, often knocking it to the ground. It was also very hard for me not to snatch my hand away when his mouth was coming at me so fast. I decided to try a little bit of sweet feed instead of crunch and after a couple of tries, Jack would politely nibble the treats out of my hand - very cool!


I had a wonderful 3 weeks with Jack before I brought Dexter home and I am looking forward to visiting him and Rob in the near future. It will be fun to see if Jack will let me approach when he is back in the pasture with his buddies.

Jack touched me deeply by allowing me to TTouch him and he is one horse who will stay in my heart forever.

Thank you so much to Linda and Robyn for this wonderful work and for Rob's willingness to try my ooglie wooglie as he calls it. I'd say Jack taught us both something. It became very clear that Jack didn't mind being touched, he just needed to be touched his way, on his terms.

Tovie and Jack!

Horses and Hawaii

We just arrived home from a wonderful vacation in Hawaii, with our good friends Mark and Sherri. The primary purpose of visiting Hawaii was so that I could attend a clinic with Linda Tellington-Jones. 16 years ago, my friend Gloria and I attended a clinic with Linda's sister Robyn, in Vernon, BC. The skills we learned have served my horses well over the years, and it was an honor and a thrill to meet Linda in person. At 75 years young, Linda's perspective on life and her TTouch are an inspiration. Linda was so impressed with my knowledge and skill level of her work that she interviewed me and will post our interview on her You Tube account.

Aside from snorkeling with beautiful sealife, we had several amazing critter encounters.

We rode horses at the world famous Parker Ranch and Sherri, who is not yet a confident rider, rode a wonderful horse named Ali, who was the perfect mount to instill confidence.

During our encounter with humpback whales, we received the Hawaiian blessing by being sprayed from the whale's spout as the baby, mama, and huge male escort whale came right alongside and underneath our boat.

We have now collectively agreed that when our horse blows and we get sprayed with snot, we'll call it the Alberta blessing.

On the nightime mantaray dive, we had mantarays the size of dinner tables swimming right underneath us - gentle giants. During our attempt to swim with spinner dolphins, they were passing through and didn't want to stop and play. It was still surreal to be in the water so close to them.

We had the pleasure of making our hands and fingers into coral reefs and have sea horses wind their tails around our fingers - they seem so delicate.

Hawaii is a magical, beautiful, spiritual place to visit, but it was sure nice to get home and be with our own critters.

Aloha!
Tovie, Gord, Mark, and Sherri

2012 is Off to a Great Start

January has been a very busy month for Just Horsing Around - in fact the busiest month since we started back in 2007. It never gets old for me to help folks come away with a better understanding of horses. So many students now have their own horses and that has brought me the privelege of helping them develop a mutually respectful relationship with their horses. The journey towards great horsemanship is so different for each of us. For me great horsemanship means being able to ask more of our horses with less; always striving for softness and harmony. The great thing about working with beginners is their openess to learning. There are many naturally talented horse people out there, and the rest of us - well we have to work harder at it - practice, practice, practice. When we aren't confident with our skills; and we see our horses struggle to figure out what we`re asking; or we get frightened by their reaction, we back off, or stop practicing. Unfortunately, the only way to improve our skills is through more practice.

There is no question, it is easier to pratice your skills with a relaiable horse that doesn`t overreact to our mistakes. Unfortunately, not everybody starts with those type of horses and that can definitely make the journey more challenging.

That is where coaching can help build that confidence in you and your horse to keep the journey fun and progressive.

Keep practicing,
Tovie and the Boys

Winter Cattle Drive 2011

Just when I thought 2011 was going to be a write off in terms of horse events, the year closed out with our annual cattle drive. The last couple of years, we have moved cows very late - last year was December 23rd. Gord and I decided to take quads because with the snow fall last night, Gord knows I would have been a nervous wreck hauling horses on such trecherous roads.

As soon as we arrived I regretted my decision to bring a quad as I enviously watched folks unloading their horses and saddling up. Our friend Lyle introduced me to his new horse, a Morgan named Casino that he bought from Bates Bar J Ranch. He was a sweet looking little horse and and so I half jokingly asked Lyle if he would be interested in trading. To my delight - he said, "sure", and so I got to ride a horse after all. Casino was a bit spirited as we headed out to round up the cows but once we hit the trail, he settled in very nicely.

Typically I wouldn't be comfortable riding a strange horse on the spur of the moment but I felt very comfortable riding Casino. The boots I was wearing were too big for the stirrups and therefore unsafe, so I ended up riding without stirrups most of the way. By the end of the ride, it felt like I had been using Suzanne Summer's thigh master for 4 hours.

The spring and fall/winter cattle drives in Water Valley are a highlight for me every year but this year in particular being so dismal in terms of the amount of saddle time; made me appreciate them even more.

This will undoutedly be my last entry for 2011 so Gord, me and all our critters wish you a wonderful Christmas and hopefully we'll cross paths with you in 2012!

Our Newest Family Member - Goblin

Just when we thought our family was complete, along comes a teenie weenie little kitten with big attitude, that we decided to name Goblin. My daughter, Amber, found him at her office building in downtown Calgary, on Halloween day. Fearful that he might not find a home if she took him to a shelter, she decided Clover could use a little buddy at the farm. I'm not sure a kitten was on Clover's wish list but after a couple of days, they have indeed become great buddies. It is such a joy to watch them wrestle, chase, and play hide and seek with each other. By all estimates, he was about 8 weeks old when he arrived, so we've designated September 1, 2011 as his birthday.

Despite his diminutive stature, he doesn't back down from Ryder's exuberant curiosity. Goblin stands his ground hissing and slashing a warning to the big boy to back off - perhaps we should have named him Freddie Kruger. Hopefully Ryder won't have to learn the hard way, with a sharp little claw to the nose, that Goblin isn't interested in playing with him.

We think he'll make a great farm cat because he is so friendly and yet feisty at the same time. He has a wonderful mentor in Clover so mice beware!

Enjoy the rest of our beautiful fall weather.
Tovie and the farm kitties, Goblin and Clover

First Mountain Trip of the Year

Today, we finally headed to the mountains with Skeeter & Magic. Since it was just Gord and I, we decided to take Ryder to see how he would be on the trail.

Ryder still has to learn to stay out of the way of the horses a little better, but for 9 months old, we couldn't be happier with him. He listened well, didn't go running after squirrels into the trees, and didn't pester the cows or other riders passing by.

The fall colours are just starting so hopefully, we'll have a couple more weekends of exquisite colour.

Skeeter's personality doesn't make him my favourite horse to play with at home, but I fall in love with him all over again on a mountain trip. Mountain trails just seem to be his thing. Skeeter is the one horse I bought for colour but his personality is a bit of a paradox. On one hand he is dominant and fearful by nature, but on the flip side of that he is very friendly and laid back. I have learned over the years that Skeeter does very well when he has a predictable routine. We introduce new things to him very slowly to help build his confidence. He isn't like Jack who is happy doing something different every day. At 16.1 hh, his height can be a bit of a detriment in the hills as the trees definitely seem a bit closer to the ground.

The funniest thing about Skeeter is that even when he does spook at something, his reaction is very laid back as if he is in slow motion.

Happy Indian Summer!
Tovie, Gord, Ryder, Skeeter & Magic

Happy Trails with Dexter

Yes, I am finally riding Dexter. The process was hugely delayed by the flooding that started in June. Our arena and round pen didn't dry up until mid September. We might get one dry day and then another rain storm would put it all under water again.

Although I have done extensive ground work with Dexter to prepare him for riding, his highly energetic nature made me exceptionally cautious. Having turned 50 this year and not being the bravest of souls, it was important for me to have an area with good footing to work in; just in case things went awry.

Well things didn't go awry. In fact, as with everything I've thrown at that little horse, he took it all in stride.

From the very first time I met Dexter, he has shown improvement every time I've played with him (except for a minor 3-day blip), and riding him has been no different. The first ride, he just moved around and got used to the feel of carrying a rider. The second ride, I added some leg pressure to turn and move on. On the third ride, I started steering him with the reins (halter/hackamore).

I have only ridden him bareback so I could easily slide off if need be, so the next step will be to saddle him up and ask more of him.

Hopefully, we'll have a mild winter so I can keep him progressing because I can't wait to take him to the mountains for a trail ride.

Tovie & Dexter
(Click Here to see a UTube of the ride)